Speed Limits in Minnesota

Speed limits Q and A

Work zones, school zones and emergency vehicles

Motorists who speed in a work zone will be fined $300. Fines are doubled in school zones and are also double for failing to reduce speed when passing by a stopped emergency vehicle with its lights flashing.

When an emergency vehicle is approaching you, move to the closest shoulder without crossing the path of the approaching emergency vehicle. You may proceed when the emergency vehicle passes you. If you are approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with its lights flashing, immediately reduce speed and, if it's safe to do so, move over in your lane away from the stopped emergency vehicle. Drivers should change lanes if there are two or more lanes in the same direction and there are no vehicles in their path.

Will lowering the speed limit reduce speeds?

No. Studies show that there is little change in the speed pattern after the posting of a speed limit. The driver is much more influenced by the roadway conditions.

Will lowering the speed limit reduce crash frequency?

No. Although lowering the speed limit is often seen as a cure-all in preventing crashes, this is not the case. Crashes are most often the result of driver inattention and driver error. However, if a posted speed limit is unrealistically low, it creates a greater speed variance (i.e. some drivers follow the speed limit while most drive the reasonable speed). This speed variance can contribute to crashes.

Why do we even have speed limits?

A uniform speed of vehicles in a traffic flow results in the safest operation. The posted speed limits can keep the traffic flowing smoothly provided the majority of drivers find the speed limits reasonable. To best do this, the limits must be consistent throughout the state. The speed limits also give the motorist an idea of a reasonable speed to drive in an unfamiliar location. The speed limits are used by police officials to identify excessive speeds and curb unreasonable behavior. Learn more about how to get a speed limit changed.